Last Wednesday, I had the honor of facilitating six smart women from across the country in one Zoom room. I volunteered to host a Write Around the World fundraiser for Amherst Writers & Artists on the theme of Narrative Medicine. One of the women in my group was Jan Haag, a writer, editor, publisher, and long-time AWA method facilitator herself.
Based on the poem we all read together, Jan recalled her role in her partner’s miraculous illness narrative. In 15 minutes of writing with the group. she penned this poem which she posted on her blog. I was surprised to open her blog this morning to see that she continued to connect with the memories and produced a second poem.
I was left at the end of the two-hour session in awe of the talent in the group. These were strong, evocative writing pieces. The women gave insightful feedback in the moment. And I was amazed at their ability to turn sometimes painful experiences into beautiful language. This is my sixth season of offering weekly workshops, and I continue to learn and grow as a facilitator and writer.
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Thanks for reading,
Deborah
Jan Haag is an amazing poet and a wonderful human. I am a fan.
I love it when writing becomes its own call and response, when a prompt is only the beginning of how to consider a story, and we have the courage to revisit the fullness of an experience in both terror and delight. Thank you for sharing both of these poems ~ I look forward to revisiting them.
PS what poem inspired the prompt?